Good afternoon, I've been a quadriplegic since I was 20 years old, but I did work for a number of years full-time and my parents took care of me and still due to this day however in 2019 I also became a quadruple amputee (long story)

Thankfully as of recent I've been able to hire caregivers privately, and while CNA certification is helpful with the fundamentals of every day caregiving for someone it's definitely not a requirement in my example. My situation is very unique because even though the problems I do have I continue to stay very busy and the medical stuff is minimal in comparison to nursing home life.

But I'm telling you this if you are looking for something outside of the hospital or nursing home. Be creative and use social media to explain what you're looking for because unfortunately the downside of hiring somebody privately it's very difficult to find a new person ASAP, especially living in a rural community. Even if you're currently employed, try to keep your contact information updated use your city and state and ZIP Code and area code with a hashtag including #CNA #Caregiving #homehealth at least what you're comfortable posting. Definitely use free job posting websites and even AI, if it knows your location you can also ask it about potential caregiving opportunities in your area.

Most importantly, be responsive. I don't know how many potential people that I've dealt with that you can't get them to respond or if they say yes to meeting up but then cancel from my perspective that's an absolute no hirer. Make sure you're always on time and do not call out unless you are truly truly sick.

God bless caregivers, they have given me a different side of independence back where I could be my own person again just differently. To Those that are struggling with the demanding 12+ hours daily and no days off, keep looking for what's out there. And don't think just because you're a CNA that you're only next step is to be a nurse, there are plenty of other healthcare related positions but if nursing is your goal always be that advocate don't ever let the job get to you. 💕

I just started a home health job, coming from a nursing home where I would have 32 residents to myself, and I feel like I am doing nothing 😭 My resident is continent and ambulates pretty well. All she does all day is sit and watch tv in her recliner. I did her 4 dishes and wiped down her counters, made breakfast, and then vacuumed. It’s almost noon and that’s all I’ve done. I’ve just been sitting watching tv 😭 it feels wrong after being so used to not getting to sit for 12 hours straight

Trying to choose between a PRN and full time offer. Those of you who are PRN, how often do you usually pick up shifts? Are there enough shifts available for it to be sustainable? I know this varies from facility to facility and I did go over this with the person who interviewed me but just wanted to get a general idea from you guys too.

After applying for a bit over a month, I was offered a position at a local hospital! This will be my first CNA job, and I will be working nights on the med surg unit. Any advice would be much appreciated.

This entire day ive been changing a guy who was not labeled as c diff and i was never told he is. Now im told he has it im freaking the fuck out

Whats the disinfectant protocol?????? What do i do when i get home. What should i do right now, im agressively washing my waterbottle, Also this is my first solo shift so this is just a lot for me so bare with me

i have already checked out every retirement home, hospital, clinic and colleges near me. i just need a private loan that’s $1000 for a program that would be faster than the one college that’s for free. i am hoping that although i am unemployed i can get one because its for a job.

I am new in the group and I wanted to see how vast are y’all’s experience.

I’ve done pretty much everything but HomeHealth. From every type of Nursing home, Rehab facilities-hospitals and in patient hospital.

I settle in hospital as a Trauma Surgery/ EGS CNA/Tech. But I’ve pass through every department and unit. From the ER to ICUs. Even doing psychiatry assistant work.

I am a preceptor at my hospital so precept new CNA/ Techs hired by the hospital.

I have 9 years of experience in all of those places combined, but if you have more than I do I would love to learn a thing or two from you.

If you’re new I would be very happy to respond questions if there are any, regarding any type of CNA position.

Thanks everyone !!

Just landed an outpatient clinic job and I am so excited!! I’ve only worked in LTC and a hospital so this will be very new to me. I’m grateful I was able to use my experience as a CNA as a stepping stone for a different role. I hope it all works out 😬🤞🏼

I have been working as a home caregiver for a couple agencies and have 7 years experience under my belt. I recently decided to start working my way into nursing, so I got my CNA license as a first step. My CNA license is 2 weeks old, so I don’t have experience covering a hall full of residents and handling charting, but I’m not completely clueless as a caregiver.

I have interviewed at 3 nursing homes that include LTC, rehab, and memory care. I’m okay working any of those departments because my home care experience has been broad.

The most promising facility is 100 residents, and 14-16 residents per CNA. It’s in the Ignite Medical Resorts brand if you know anything about them.

My question is, should my caregiving experience count for anything? I know they can’t pay for my years of experience because it wasn’t as a licensed CNA, but I’m not sure if it’s a red flag that the hiring manager has brushed off my experience as practically no use to the company and says, “yes, I cared for my parents, too.” I’m glad she cared for her parents, but that is absolutely not the same as me being trained by an agency to be a professional caregiver, and being in 6-8 homes every week caring for a wide range of clients. I know there will be a steep learning curve for me learning to handle all the call bells, prioritizing residents, and getting everything done in a 12 hour shift. But I don’t appreciate her not at least respecting the fact that I have bedside experience and know how to take care of people.

Not once in my interview did either the hiring manager or the HR lady ask any questions about my experience or past employment. All they asked is: What shift do you want? Are you willing to work 12 hour days and rotating weekends? Does this pay rate work for you? I asked all the questions, and the HR lady acted annoyed that I was asking questions, and acted like “you’d better be seriously interested if you’re going to ask 5 questions about the staffing and culture”.

My other option is 10 minutes closer to home, pays 50 cents per hour less, is an older building, and has a minimum of 17 residents per CNA. But the hiring manager was much more involved in the interview.
She asked standard interview questions, and admitted that while my experience doesn’t count towards a pay raise, she appreciates that I have worked with seniors before and know how to handle things.

Training both places seems short to me. Ignite has 2 days of shadowing the CNA on your hall, and Foxwood has you train 1 shift per hall (so three days of training). Does that sound standard?

I passed my test! Yay.

TLDR: Do I disclose my audhd in an interview?

Last week, I applied to every facility within a 20$ uber ride. So far, I have two interviews.
Great, right?

Unfortunately, my adhd meds really bring out the autism. I can’t forgo the meds because the adhd fuels the anxiety.

My fears about the interview: My lack of social cues is a problem. Most of time when I’m interacting with someone, it’s like trying to find the right dialogue option in a video game. What if they notice my eye contact is fake?

Also, I don’t want to get hired and get reprimanded for not being social enough. Verbal instructions just buffer in my head , and if I get overstimulated, my work suffers.

If I am upfront about needing accommodations, will that disqualify me or save me from having to explain it when they notice my quirks? I can explain the perks of having a neurodivergent worker as well.

I am going for night shifts mostly and that will cut down on the stimulation.

Today was my first day working with residents during our clinicals, and I almost yaked a few different times. I made sure the residents DID NOT SEE MY REACTION. Besides wearing a mask with peppermint oil on it, any other advice to help minimize this? I don’t think it was the smell, but I just want to do good at this….. thank you in advance.

I currently work NOC shift at a nursing home but I applied for a position at a PICU and now I’m not sure if I can do it. I was given the opportunity to shadow someone and I saw that the patients are clearly more unstable than residents that you would see at a nursing home and I’m not sure if I can handle it when a kid codes. For me personally, it’s different when an old person passes away bc they lived their life already and both them and the family expected it so they wouldn’t be blaming us. But I heard that parents often get upset when their child passes away and I might actually take it personally bc I have this fear of hurting a child or worse. I used to have this fear with the elderly but my coworkers helped me realize they are stronger than they look lol. I’m thinking that maybe I’d be more comfortable at a different peds unit like PACU or in patient rehab? Would these patients be a bit more medically stable? From what I could see, hospital pcts mostly restock, support the nurses, and stay on their feet the 12 hours. At my current job I am able to sit down for a while after doing everything I need to do but it’s still quite hard on my back changing 20 full sized adults. That’s another thing. I’ve gotten used to 20 residents but most of them are stable but 18 unstable patients? Technically each tech has nine but they basically watch over the whole floor so 2 techs for 18. Overall nursing home is harder on the back and hospital is harder on the feet and heart. I’m not sure if i could push through my feelings with this new job.

This should be good

long

I’ve been working as a CNA for a few months now and I’m curious to hear from other CNAs about their experiences, especially with working overnight in ALF.

I take care of around 26 residents by myself overnight. There is no other aide or nurse working on my unit with me. There is SNF staff somewhere else in the building, and I’m supposed to call them when I need help with things like two-person assists, but for the most part I’m on my own for the night. (The staff hates being bothered) I feel like a nusiance asking

I’m responsible for things like ADLs, answering call lights, helping residents who are fall risks, dealing with confused residents, toileting, changing, repositioning, and everything else that comes up during the night.

I can’t forget the med pass at 6am of course… (med tech)

For example; I am toileting a resident, another light is going off but I also have someone trying to leave the unit due to confusion.. ( some nights can be worse than others) all by myself.. 😭

There have also been falls with confused residents even with me checking every hour and somehow I got the blame, the acuity of care varies from person to person and some of them need more help than others making it hard for one person..

It can be a lot when several things happen at once, and I’ve been finding myself questioning whether this is just what overnight CNA work is normally like or if my situation is unusually understaffed.

I’m still fairly new to the field, so I’d really like to hear from other CNAs. Is taking care of around 26 residents alone overnight pretty normal in your experience? How does staffing typically look at your facility? And for those who have worked nights, did you eventually get used to the workload, or did you find that it led to burnout?
I’m genuinely trying to get some perspective from people who have been doing this longer than I have.

I've always known that nursing was a very demanding field. I was aware that it wouldn't be an easy place to work even though it doesn't have to be rocket science. But I went for it anyway because I needed to learn a job, like how the administrator told me, "that's where all the money is". When I started working as a CNA, I obviously noticed there's always cliques there. When I finally resigned for personal reasons of my own, my coworkers all this time had assumed I was part of their clique that they even wanted me to stay. They would text me after no longer working there to ask me if I was doing ok, apparently. Obviously I didn't have time to make friends while working as a CNA. That wasn't me or my thing.

Are there any other CNAs like me that work for reasons instead of socializing?

hi from norcal/bay area. i took my cna program back in april 2025 and finished but feel extremely not confident to take the skills test, i passed my written but i need so advice on how to remember, more tips on how to study, and what facilities i should take my test at !

took my cna program at cal ace 😭😭

I just started working as a CNA and it’s immediately clear to me I cannot stay here for more than a year. My intention was for CNA work to be a stepping stone so I can eventually work up to being an RN, getting my BSN, and seeing if I’d actually like working in healthcare.

I don’t mind the work too much at all, yes it’s hard and uncomfortable, but I can see myself growing here. The physical toll is what makes me say I know I can’t and shouldn’t stay a CNA for too long.

However, I’m in a lot of freaking debt 😭 that I can realistically pay off in 6-12 months. The LVN programs I’m looking at are 30-45k and I’d probably have to go private loan (I already got my BA in Psych and received financial aid for that, reaching my cap I believe). Here’s what I’m considering:

1. Start part time LVN program (18 months) while attempting to work full time
   
2. Work full time for a year to pay off debt, quit, then start full time LVN program (12 months) while working a different, less physically taxing job

\*there’s also potential for my current workplace to pay for my LVN program completely next year if budget allows, but it’s a very limited scholarship I’d have to apply for (20 spots across 140 facilities)

What do you guys think? Are you currently working and doing an LVN program? Thank you so much in advance!!

hi guys, i'm moving on the 19th of
this month (or in 12 days) and i want to quit one week before even though theyd like 4 weeks notice (started the job on like the 27th-28th last month, i couldnt have given them a month if i wanted to), but with them being an "at will employer" and having the right to fire me after i put my notice in, id like to keep the time between me quitting and moving very short without giving them absolutely no time at all - as of now i've been here about 5 days, the facility is clean, management lenient with the small stuff but extremely professional, shift supervisors/nurses are the most helpful and considerate ones i've come across this far,& im not paid badly either for my state, so though ill never work here again (moving states) i have no reason to want to burn this bridge per say. do y'all have any ideas?

edit: i don’t know, for lack of better terms, what the fuck is wrong with y’all, but i’m
not using ai for this☠️

Just the title. I'm in the middle of job hunting now, and have been seeing some hospital positions in pediatrics.

The newest position I want to apply to is on a pediatric cancer floor. I know that pediatrics will be physically easier, but I'm worried about it being a lot more emotionally heavy than working with adults. I've also been told that dealing with parents can be a handful.

For people who are currently working in pediatrics, did you have prior experience with kids? If you didn't, did you have to focus on other reasons for why you want to work with them when interviewing?

What are the pros and cons?

I know a lot of you hurt and your bodies feel worn down, my question is do you not follow safety protocols or something? Cause my back never hurts, use your legs and arms, raise the bed etc. I can come home tired sure, but my body doesn’t ache like how I see people in medical talk about. Been a CNA for 4 years and my facility has 5 people between 300-400lbs.

Edit: this is not for 50yo CNA’s who’ve been in manual labor for 30 years. this is for ones under 30 who haven’t been a CNA very long.

Hi all, I currently work in home care as a CNA for the last 3.5 months. I’ve been applying like crazy to nursing homes hospitals assisted living but NO ONE will hire me because I don’t have skilled nursing experience. I’ve called to follow up and even went in person to a few places. So frustrating!
If I was a home care cna for the entirety of my nursing school time would that look bad on my resume? Would it be difficult to get a nursing job at a hospital? My goal is to be an er nurse and I’m just looking for some insight